Despite missing Friday's morning shoot-around because of flu symptoms, Lakers center Andrew Bynum boarded the team bus en route to the Lakers-Portland game at the Rose Garden, The Times' Mike Bresnahan and Broderick Turner tweeted.

Both indicated that's a positive sign Bynum probably will play tonight against the Trail Blazers, though it was indicated he'll officially decide as the 7 p.m. tipoff nears.

Bynum has appeared in only one of the Lakers' three regular-season victories against Portland this season. He missed the 121-96 victory Nov. 7 because he was rehabbing his surgically repaired left knee and also sat out of the Lakers' 84-80 victory March 20 as he served the first game of a two-game suspension for his flagrant foul two on Minnesota's Michael Beasley. He appeared in the Lakers' 106-101 overtime victory Feb. 23, but he was little featured in the offense as he scored six points on three-for-six shooting in 32 minutes.

--Mark Medina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Andrew Bynum. Credit: Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times